Swiveling chair with electrical pass-through

Abstract

A bi-plate ball bearing is configured for horizontally mounting between a base and a chair. The ball bearing has an upper plate and a lower plate defining a ball bearing race and a tension member holding the plates together disposed through a central rotational axis of the bi-plate ball bearing. The tension member may be configured as a threaded metal tube fixed to a first one of the upper plate and the lower plate and held to a second one of the upper plate and the lower plate by a nut. The threaded metal tube defines a passage through the central rotational axis of the bi-plate ball bearing through which power and control wiring may pass. The bearing may provide a cost-effective swivel bearing for chair that includes powered electronics, for which it is desired to pass wiring from the swiveling chair into a chair base.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 260,603, filed Nov. 12, 2009, which application is specifically incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The present disclosure relates to swiveling chairs that include electrically wired devices above the swivel.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Swiveling chairs may be constructed using a pedestal or legged base supporting a chair seat, and a mechanical swivel, such as a ball bearing, interposed between the seat and the base. A ball bearing swivel may be disposed horizontally between the base and the seat, and bear the weight of the seat and its occupant through the balls and races of the ball bearing. Ball bearings provide a smooth, quiet, and nearly frictionless swiveling action, relative to other bearing types. In such chairs, the ball bearing swivel provides the only practical structure for attaching t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a swiveling chair with an electrical connection between the base and seat. The design uses a cost-effective stamped metal bi-plate ball bearing swivel, which is modified to allow a wire to pass through its central rotational axis. The wire is routed through this axis to avoid exposure and risk of breakage. The seat can be attached to the swivel's upper plate, and the base can be attached to the lower plate. This allows for an electrical connection between the seat and base without impairing the swivel's action. The technical effect is the provision of a safe and reliable electrical connection in a swiveling chair.

Problems solved by technology

Certain bearing types, such as precision tapered roller bearings, are designed for bearing axial loads in thrust and can be modified to carry significant tension loads, but are prohibitively expensive for most chair applications.

However, such routing may result in exposing the wire outside of the chair envelope, which is esthetically unattractive.

Such routing may also subject the wire to frequent flexure, or to risks of being snagged or cut, which is functionally undesirable.

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